With the NBA Trade Deadline come and gone it was a pretty major shock to see Jahlil Okafor still in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform. The former #1 overall pick was at the center of multiple trade rumors, but then Philly went in a different direction and sent Nerlens Noel to the Dallas Mavericks for a ho-hum package in return.
Now Okafor is still in Philadelphia and with Joel Embiid injured again and out for the season, Sixers fans can hope that Okafor can grab hold of the opportunity that is before him to truly become a franchise player.
Or not.
Just watch this “effort” from “Okafor” on this defensive possession. And yes, he deserves to have his name also in quotations because no actual professional basketball player should be able to look at themselves in the mirror after this display. He’s the big guy in the middle of the lane doing absolutely nothing.
Watch Jahlil on this possession. I'm speechless. #Sixers pic.twitter.com/oybm49bEEj
— Brian Bachman (@brianbachman_) March 2, 2017
Are you kidding me? That would be an embarrassing lack of defense IN AN ALL-STAR GAME, let alone an actual NBA contest. That made James Harden look like Gary Payton!
It’s not like Okafor has been a massive bust for the 76ers as he’s averaging 11/5 this season after averaging 17.5 PPG in his rookie season. At least he’s putting up better numbers than Michael Olowokandi ever did. But with efforts like this and The Process himself now sidelined, Okafor isn’t going to be endearing himself to his home fans any time soon.
I’d pay my own money to play in the NBA and give better effort than that.